As Chief of Cardiology at Harlem Hospital Center, Dr. Fergus sees stress, poverty and discrimination as playing important roles in the health of African Americans. Her professional pathway took her from the research labs of Columbia to the streets of Harlem where the neediest members of the community seek her help in treating and preventing chronic diseases. Here she tells us how she got started in her field and wound up working in Harlem.

As Chief of Cardiology at Harlem Hospital Center, and as a community advocate for Harlem's residents, Dr. Fergus works hard to build trust with Harlem's Hispanic community.  Part of doing that starts with speaking their language-literally.

As Chief of Cardiology at Harlem Hospital Center, Dr. Fergus sees stress, poverty and discrimination as all playing an important part in the health of many urban communities particularly those of African Americans and Hispanic ethnicities. Her goal is to reach community members where they are at-either on the streets or in their heads. She told us her philosophy is to work with patients to fight heart disease as a team.

New York City has a low incidence of strokes compared to the US, but Harlem has the highest rate of stroke in NYC ... Dr Olajide Williams is a physician at Harlem Hospital and a key leader in stroke treatment and prevention in Harlem.